Results 20,001-20,020 of 26,350 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (13 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: To be helpful, to go back to the first line of that paragraph, it says “A planning authority shall prepare a strategy”. So it is the objectives within that strategy. We are not saying that a planning authority might have to do this or it might not. It says that the strategy be prepared as part of the development plan. That is very clear. I think it is very strong. I say...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Planning and Development Bill 2023: Committee Stage (13 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I fully respect the Deputy’s right to do so. That is fine. To be helpful, as we go on, we will give a comparison between the existing wording, which I do not have to hand, and the new wording, which we can get to the Deputy. It would probably be appropriate to have that tomorrow. It is important that we not only speak on the strategies themselves but also that we see what is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, supporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key priority for me and the Government. Critical to supporting households to exit homelessness is increasing supply. Thankfully, we are seeing supply increase substantially. At the end of quarter 1, we will have our social housing and affordable numbers for 2023 which I predict will show an increase...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Supply, I think everyone agrees, is key. If one looks at where we have come from when this Government came into office and since Housing for All, we have exceeded our overall housing delivery targets, not only on social housing but across the board. We need to do that. We need to ensure that we have a stable private rental sector as well. There are many reasons people fall into...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is correct.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I ask Deputy Ó Broin to not interrupt me and let me answer the question. The Deputy can come back in. That is correct. Effectively, what one needs is different supports for different people. We have new arrivals. We have people coming into homelessness due to family break-up, not only through the private rental sector. I note, by the way, that the Deputy had a motion that he...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: First, Deputy Ó Broin is absolutely incorrect about social housing entitlements but that never gets in the way of him making any remarks in here.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Stop interrupting, Eoin. I have just started. Let me answer.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: It is the second time he has done it. I am just saying.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Sorry.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Well that is a charge that the Deputy has made here that he should withdraw. A number of weeks ago, Deputy Ó Laoghaire made a charge to this House that I had misled the Dáil when I put facts on the record. I asked the Deputy's colleague to write to me and to the Ceann Comhairle to outline exactly what was incorrect and I am still awaiting a letter from Sinn Féin.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am still awaiting a letter from you.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I am laughing at you, Eoin.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Homeless Accommodation (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: I have never ignored the Chair’s ruling. The Deputy has continually interrupted me. If I could answer in this regard, one could look at last year and those who exited emergency accommodation. Some 2,815 adults exited emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created and over 4,000 adults were prevented from entering emergency accommodation. One could look at some other...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, affordability is at the heart of Housing for All. Since its launch, over 3,800 affordable homes have been delivered, supported by the affordable housing fund, the cost rental equity loan, Project Tosaigh and the first home scheme. This momentum will continue as the pipeline of affordable housing delivery is developed and expanded by our delivery partners, including...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: No one is massaging figures at all. Let me give exact figures as I regularly do. Take the affordable housing fund. We have approved 4,300 affordable purchase homes through that fund across 21 local authorities, involving over €370 million in grant aid. I will give just three examples. Cois Farraige in Blackrock, County Louth, where there are three-bedroom homes from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Again the Deputy will try to use the figures for his own narrative. The equity that the local authorities hold on behalf of the State does not have to be paid back and no interest is charged on that either.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: At the very end.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Housing Provision (15 Feb 2024)

Darragh O'Brien: Also, this Government legislated for and brought forward cost rental in the Affordable Housing Act and it has changed the cost rental equity loan to ensure more and more cost rental properties are being delivered. This did not exist before this Government came in either. They are a minimum of 25% below market and provide secure tenure for people. They are extremely popular for people out...